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  1. #21

    Bloomberg editorial re European banks and underlying accounting tricks to conceal losses


  2. #22
    Ilona,

    I sent you a private message (i.e., question), if you could check your Notifications tab on the site.

    Thanks,

    Adam

  3. #23
    Join Date
    Jun 2011
    Location
    HAILEY, ID., MESQUITE, NV.
    Posts
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    More on FAS 157

    By Fisher Investments Editorial Staff, 05/16/2011

    Story Highlights:
    • An accounting rule change proposal was made formally Friday that would move a step further away from the disastrous aspects of FAS 157.
    • This should help resolve the debate over fair value accounting standards, but other aspects seen as contributing to 2008’s financial panic remain open for discussion.
    • Regulators are busy trying to determine which banks pose “systemic risk” and which do not.
    • Tellingly, some banks are lining up to say they’re small enough to fail.

    Friday was a busy financial news day, with headlines dominated by better-than-expected eurozone GDP and slowing US CPI (i.e., inflation). But quietly, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) announced a proposal to adopt the International Accounting Standards Board’s (IASB) version of fair value requirements.

    It might seem a bit out of character for accountants to make a noisy to-do about a rule change, but this strikes us as significant. The proposal represents a further step away from (and could essentially sound the death knell for) problematic aspects of FAS 157—the well-intended accounting principle that significantly contributed to 2008’s financial panic before losing much of its teeth following March 2009’s congressional hearings on the subject.

    For some time now, discussion over merging US and international accounting standards to “harmonize” rules has occurred—a fine idea, but one also raising the possibility of FAS 157-like policy being reborn. After Friday, that’s still possible—but seems extremely unlikely. (We’re not superstitious, but we just knocked on wood.) If the rule is adopted as proposed, banks will still be required to report the fair value of assets held. But mark-to-market values for less-liquid assets intended to be held to maturity will be reported in footnotes (as they are, thankfully, today). This is vastly different than the period from November 2007 through March 2009—when banks were, disastrously, forced to give equal treatment to very dissimilar assets. This proposal, which the IASB and many banks support, should satisfy most seeking transparency, but is more measured—so bank balance sheet health won’t hinge on the immediate liquidation values of illiquid assets. While this decision should help resolve the fair value debate, other heavily discussed aspects of the panic still await resolution.

    For one, regulators are busy trying to determine which banks pose “systemic risk” and which do not. In fact, many banks are arguing they’re small enough to fail—which some might see as odd (that is, if you assume corporations might want some sort of government backstop against their failure), but not if you consider 2008’s actual events.

    Was the problem really all about some banks’ sizes, or was it more that investors couldn’t figure out the government’s next steps? Consider: Lehman Brothers and Bear Stearns were roughly the same size and type of institution—yet the government took entirely different paths in dealing with them (not to mention other troubled firms). The result? Widespread uncertainty leading to even greater credit- and equity-market volatility.

    Some banks now seemingly think if they’re designated systemically insignificant, investors still have to ponder potential bankruptcy risk—but not handicap regulators’ schizophrenic actions. Being small enough to fail also removes those banks from potentially stricter government regulation, fees and oversight the “Too Big to Fail” (TBTF) banks could receive—which could expose TBTF firms to more subjective regulation ahead. Of course, the flip-side could also be true: TBTF banks could be a competition killer as customers flock to banks perceived to have an extra government security blanket. But these small- and mid-size banks wanting to avoid TBTF designation evidently see greater benefit in avoiding potential future government involvement.

    Evenly applied, well thought-out regulation is a clear plus, but the government’s actions in 2008 don’t meet that definition. The financial panic was seriously exacerbated—if not initiated—by a series of regulator choices showing close to zero consistency or understanding of potential unintended consequences. No doubt, weak housing and credit market displacements played roles, but absent misapplied accounting rules and haphazard government responses, the crisis likely wouldn’t have been so steep and deep. Folks, 2008’s panic cannot be simply explained by claims it was the inevitable byproduct of banker greed run amok, “toxic” assets, wealth inequality or subprime and/or housing market woes. Those might be easy explanations to deliver and comprehend—and they largely exonerate regulators from blame—but they simply don’t fit the facts, nor do they provide investors with insight helpful in obtaining a sense of closure.

  4. #24
    Join Date
    Aug 2009
    Location
    Bloomfield, Michigan, USA
    Posts
    40

    foreshadowing changes in the regulatory framework governing HFT

    Speaking of robots: http://www.computerworlduk.com/news/...ernment-paper/

    "Algorithmic stock trading rapidly replacing humans, warns government paper

    "Regulatory framework needs to be updated to keep pace with effects of technology"

    UK report by The Foresight Panel, led by Dame Clara Furse, the former chief executive of the London Stock Exchange, found "'no direct evidence' that the computer trading in itself increased volatility,... but in specific circumstances it was possible for a series of events with 'undesired interactions and outcomes' to occur and cause massive damage."

  5. #25

    NYTimes Gretchen Morgenson column re Europe crisis


  6. #26

    Ed Hornstein's message of 9/18

    Despite a large percentage move for the major indices last week, the tape leaves
    much to be desired. While the Nasdaq and Nasdaq 100 climbed slightly above some
    resistance levels last week, and a few select breakouts have succeeded, there
    appears much more wrong than right with this tape:

    First, the major indices lack any accumulation. Other than Friday's options
    expiration -- which caused volume to surge -- and Thursday's higher volume
    churning action on the Nasdaq, volume has been absent when the indices have
    moved higher. This underscores the lack of demand for stocks from the big money
    crowd. Moreover, the Russell 2000, NYSE Composite, Dow, and s and p 500 have
    lagged considerably and created divergences that do not correlate well with a
    market seeing high levels of money flows. Until this changes, caution is
    warranted.

    Second, leading stocks continue to form late-stage faulty bases. While
    late-stage bases can work if the patterns are constructive, most of the leaders'
    basing patterns have fundamental flaws such as wedging handles, low levels of
    accumulations, or v-like structures. At a minimum, these stocks need more time
    to correct these flaws and build proper bases.

    Third, stocks that have attempted to breakout have acted rather sluggishly.
    While a few names like ATHN and PSMT have broken out and advanced, larger liquid
    leaders such as GMCR, MA, V, and PLCN have struggled when they have attempted to
    breakout. In strong markets, liquid leaders will breakout and give a patient
    investor little chance to buy them as they will advance rather quickly. The
    sluggishness of these breakouts argues that -- at the very least -- the market
    needs more time to base-build.

    Fourth, the few stocks that are leading come from industry groups that are
    rather defensive in nature, such as the auto-replacement part stocks, gold
    miners, utilities, discount retailer and "dollar stores", medical stocks (which
    tend to be of a more defensive posture), and large-cap consumer stapes like
    Procter and Gamble and Colgate. When recession-proof defensive names are
    leading the market, it does not bode well for a sustainable uptrend.

    Fifth, stocks that are economic bellwethers have absolutely lagged this rally.
    Names like Federal Express and Caterpillar have acted extremely weak and refuse
    to rally with the broad market.

    Sixth, emerging markets -- which have lead rallies the past few years -- refuse
    to do so. The charts of Brazil, Hong Hong, mainland China, or the other Asian
    emerging markets remain in horrid shape.

    Seventh, the financial stocks still act highly distributive. While most of the
    large banks have held their August lows, they cannot gain much traction and lack
    any volume to the upside. While banks do not have to lead a rally, continued
    deterioration in the technical patterns of these stocks does not correlate well
    with a sustainable uptrend.



    Despite the negative characteristics I described, it is always possible that the
    market is in a "repair stage" similar to what we saw in the summer of 2010.

    In 2010 (after a severe intermediate correction from May to July), the market
    bottomed on July 1, followed-through, and had a similar rally to today's rally
    with little power or leadership from growth stocks. Then, for the last three
    weeks of August, the indices sold off aggressively, but did not undercut the
    July 1 low. During those three weeks, the stocks that would provide leadership
    for the fall rally began to tighten up and act constructively such as AMZN,
    RVBD, CMG, SINA, and PLCN. The market staged a lasting follow-through on
    September 1. Unlike the July follow-through, leaders broke out almost
    immediately and began monster moves. The power from breakouts early in
    September was the key ingredient that was missing from the July rally.

    The recent rally has similar characteristics to the "flawed" July 2010 rally,
    which ultimately set the stage for the "real" rally in September 2010. If that
    is the case, we should watch closely for a wave of selling similar to August
    2010, where the leadership tightens up, coils, and sets up to break out in a few
    weeks.

    Of course this is just one possibility and trying to predict where the market
    goes or what course it will take is fool's gold. But, by examining the weight
    of the evidence, I am left to conclude that the market's recent rally is
    somewhat feeble, and not the "fat pitch" where the prudent speculator would want
    to be aggressively long and expose large amounts of capital. THAT CAN CHANGE IN
    A MOMENT'S NOTICE, but until powerful breakouts succeed (other than a few
    exceptions), and quality liquid growth stocks break out of proper bases, the
    prudent speculator should remain patient and be ready to seize this opportunity
    when it occurs, whether it's next week, next month, or next year.

    This email was sent by Edward Hornstein, 60 east 42nd street, suite 1144, ny,

  7. #27
    Quote Originally Posted by ilonaross View Post
    Despite a large percentage move for the major indices last week, the tape leaves
    much to be desired. While the Nasdaq and Nasdaq 100 climbed slightly above some
    resistance levels last week, and a few select breakouts have succeeded, there
    appears much more wrong than right with this tape:

    First, the major indices lack any accumulation. Other than Friday's options
    expiration -- which caused volume to surge -- and Thursday's higher volume
    ..............................
    This email was sent by Edward Hornstein, 60 east 42nd street, suite 1144, ny,
    Interesting. I think we are in the firt scenario the author gives, I also remember 2010 and was kind of convinced it would break down, they came the QEII and the developments the Mr Hornstein relates as a consideration of what could be an alternative escenario.......... a rally resume mode.......... In early summer 2010 there were lot of indicator pointing to a posible doble deep as this 2011 summer, I consider this time is more clear will see contraction on GDP (yoy) one or more of these quarters ...... international developed economies talking ..........but just in case I´m too wrong and for the similar 2010 escenario is good to know that german Bundesbank has said today they envise a robust growth for the 3 quarter just about to end....... german economy is very open (Imports+Exports as % GDP are high, they are 2nd rank in export countries) and the guys in Bundesbank have good info or course.........

    PD: I arrived here trough EB forum

  8. #28

    Things Apple is worth more than


  9. #29

    Re Pablo's link to interview with trader.


  10. #30

    Ed Hornstein's message of 10/4

    I will have a full market update this weekend. However, I wanted to put out a
    quick note to underscore two points.

    First, and most important, is that high levels of cash and preserving capital
    are key. In my past report, I discussed the characteristics that led me to
    believe the market's rally off the August 8 lows was anything but a "fat pitch"
    and lacked the power associated with a new uptrend. Since then, the market
    indices have traded sideways, while institutions have rotated from sector to
    sector distributing stocks en masse. It now looks plausible that the August 8
    lows will be taken out and that another down leg in this bear phase is upon us.


    While the mass media is now admitting this is a bear market, the market has
    given us plenty of clues over the past few months that its tone was anything but
    healthy. In fact, the tape is much worse than what the indices tell us- many
    former leaders have fallen 50-75 percent while many financial and commodity
    stocks are selling at levels not seen since the crash of 2008-09.

    The bottom line is that we are in a bear phase for stocks, the market's trend is
    down, and there continues to be serious damage and distribution almost every
    day. Faced with these indisputable facts, preserving your capital, and
    psychological capital is of utmost importance.

    Second, while it is fruitless to predict how long the downtrend will last, the
    good news is that this bear phase will end too. As we move lower, and selling
    picks up, the doomsdayers will grow louder and louder that the world is ending.


    The market has an incredible ability to forecast the future, so do not be
    surprised when the market ultimately bottoms while all the news is bad. I can
    promise you it will. I always maintain that these bear phases are a prudent
    speculator's best friend- as they lay the foundations for future bull markets.
    Our economy has survived many wars, political unrest, economic hardship, panics,
    stock crashes, depressions etc. So to will it survive the various problems
    facing it today. While significantly lower prices could be in store for the
    market in the near future, a strong bull opportunity could arrive sooner than
    people realize. (I will outline this over the weekend). While the negativity
    is rampant as stocks go lower, remember the importance of preserving capital to
    take advantage of the next giant opportunity that will most certainly emerge
    from the depths of this bear market.

    As always, please email me with any questions or comments.
    This email was sent by Edward Hornstein, 60 east 42nd street, suite 1144, ny,
    NY 10165, using Express Email Marketing.

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